Yeah, I don't think they've had a factory vinyl top since the '80s. My Dad's '84 and '87 had the factory 1/2 padded tops as part of the Cartier or other package, IIRC. His '91 and '96 didn't have them.

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Vinyl tops on Town Cars certainly were commonplace in the 1980s. At the rate I seem to have seen them wearing them, it would be very cost-inneffective to have them all farmed out, esp when Lincoln previously already did them in-house.

Text states that 'even the 'base' Lincoln Town Car gets a full vinyl roof'.

Body was redesigned for '98- from random Googling '01, '00, '99, '98 & '97 images, I can believe that redesign was the change-over point for Lincoln WRT factory vs. aftermarket vinyl roofs. As soon as they get 'carriage-roofy', they're aftermarket.

Vinyl tops on Town Cars certainly were commonplace in the 1980s. At the rate I seem to have seen them wearing them, it would be very cost-inneffective to have them all farmed out, esp when Lincoln previously already did them in-house.

Text states that 'even the 'base' Lincoln Town Car gets a full vinyl roof'.

Body was redesigned for '98- from random Googling '01, '00, '99, '98 & '97 images, I can believe that redesign was the change-over point for Lincoln WRT factory vs. aftermarket vinyl roofs. As soon as they get 'carriage-roofy', they're aftermarket.

Regular vinyl tops probably went away w/ the '90 redesign. I don't recall seeing any '90-97 style ones with full vinyl tops. Some had the padded 1/2 tops and carriage roof tops. I've always liked the styling of the '90-97 TCs. Didn't care for the '98-02, w/ the odd tiny grille and odd headlights. The '03 update that is still around looks a lot better, IMHO.

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Regular vinyl tops probably went away w/ the '90 redesign. I don't recall seeing any '90-97 style ones with full vinyl tops. Some had the padded 1/2 tops and carriage roof tops. I've always liked the styling of the '90-97 TCs. Didn't care for the '98-02, w/ the odd tiny grille and odd headlights. The '03 update that is still around looks a lot better, IMHO.

I really don't like the Towncars with the severely curved down rear roof... seriously limits headroom. Sucks when you are in a limo, and have to scoot down so you feel like your almost lying down to avoid having the roof on your head.